UML's magic ride continues

BOSTON -- For years these were the type of low-scoring games the UMass Lowell hockey team simply couldn't find a way to win. Now, because they can, the River Hawks are on the brink of winning their first-ever Hockey East Tournament and heading to the NCAA Division I Tournament for an unprecedented second straight year.

UML 2, Providence 1

During Blaise MacDonald's final five seasons as coach, the River Hawks lost a staggering 22 games in which they limited opponents to one or two goals. This season, Norm Bazin's second behind the UML bench, the River Hawks have already won six games in which they scored only two goals themselves, including last Friday's series-clinching victory over Maine in overtime.

Providence, with first-team All-Hockey East goaltender and Rookie of the Year Jon Gillies manning the nets, was 14-0-0 this season when leading after two periods. Trailing 16th-ranked and fourth-seeded Providence 1-0 heading into the third period on Friday, UML responded with goals from freshman A.J. White and Scott Wilson while freshman second-team All-Hockey East goalie Connor Hellebuyck blocked 18 shots in the period, and the River Hawks skated off with a 2-1 triumph before 14,855 fans at TD Garden and into Saturday night's championship game.

UML will face BU in the final.

This will mark only the third appearance by UML (25-10-2) in the championship game. The River Hawks lost to Boston University in 1994 and 2009.

"It's within our grasp now," said Bazin, who played in the 1994 loss.

Fifth-ranked UML has won 11 of its last 12 games and is 21-3-1 in its last 25 outings.

After giving up a first-period goal to the Friars (17-14-7) and being outplayed, the River Hawks took the play to Providence in the second period only to be stymied again and again by Gillies.

"Going into the third we'd had plenty of chances," Wilson said. "We needed to keep battling."

"It's never going to be picture perfect," Bazin said. "This league is ruthless. It's playoff hockey and nothing comes easy.

"The only thing you can do is persevere and be relentless. I told the guys in the locker room: 'Regardless of the result, I want you to leave it out there.' "

Just 34 seconds into the third period, the relentless River Hawks finally tied the game after breaking into the Providence zone 4-on-2. White collected the rebound of a Joseph Pendenza shot in the slot and rifled it home for just his second goal.

"We've been pretty good in the third period all year long, had a couple of comebacks," said Wilson, who climaxed UML's fifth come-from-behind win in the third period this season.

Wilson pounced on a PC turnover in the neutral zone and passed the puck to Riley Wetmore, who carried it into the zone along the left boards while Wilson skated down the middle. Wilson appeared to be tied up by defenseman John Gilmour, but he managed to receive Wetmore's pass and while going down on one knee swept the puck past Gillies at 7:30 left in the game for his 15th goal of the season.

It was also Wilson's team-leading ninth clutch goal of the season.

"I knew once I gave it to Wetsy, I'd get a nice return pass," Wilson said. "It kind of went under (Gilmour's) stick, and I got enough wood on it."

"I saw (the puck)," Gillies said. "It just kind of surprised me. I didn't have my feet set, and he got good wood on it."

"He's a talented individual," Bazin said of Wilson, a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick. "He can shoot off the pass. There aren't many people who can, and he did."

"One of the things I've had to learn in college," said last season's Hockey East Rookie of the Year, "is to get pucks off faster. I've been working with the coaches the last two years on that."

"At the end of the day, Scott Wilson makes a play," lamented Providence coach Nate Leaman. "He's a big-time player, and he made a heckuva play in a 1-1 game."

The River Hawks had to deal with four icings in the final two minutes, and Providence pulled Gillies in favor of a sixth skater with 1:35 left.

But Hellebuyck, who finished the game with 34 saves, was equal to the task.

Providence took a 1-0 lead at 8:59 of the first period when fourth-line center Noel Acciari stepped around a UML defender and got off a good-angle shot on Hellebuyck, who made the initial save.

But freshman Kevin Rooney snared the rebound and tucked it behind Hellebuyck for his first collegiate goal.

Christian Folin hit the post with a blast from the blue line during a UML power play in the final minute of the first period, and Gillies robbed Pendenza point blank with five minutes left in the second.

But the River Hawks persisted and found a way to win a low-scoring game.

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